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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of regional broadband advisory groups. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 490I, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 490I.01051 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 490I.01051. REGIONAL BROADBAND ADVISORY GROUPS. (a) |
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The broadband development office may designate regions of the state |
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and appoint for each region a regional broadband advisory group. |
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The office shall appoint members of each regional broadband |
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advisory group to represent: |
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(1) public and private entities from eligible areas as |
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designated under Section 490I.0105(a) in the region; and |
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(2) at least one political subdivision in the region. |
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(b) The office shall designate a representative from the |
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office to serve as an ex officio member of each regional broadband |
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advisory group. |
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(c) A regional broadband advisory group shall: |
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(1) gather suggestions and recommendations from the |
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public regarding issues that should be addressed in the state |
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broadband plan under Section 490I.0107 for the region; |
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(2) create plans to address broadband service needs |
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identified under the state broadband plan under Section 490I.0107 |
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in the region; |
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(3) provide information to the office to be used for |
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long-range federal and state funding forecasts for the development |
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of broadband service in the region; |
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(4) engage in outreach to communities in the region |
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regarding the expansion, adoption, affordability, and use of |
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broadband service; and |
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(5) coordinate efforts in the region to form |
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partnerships and joint funding opportunities for broadband |
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development. |
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(d) Annually, a regional broadband advisory group shall |
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submit a report to the office identifying: |
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(1) the progress of broadband development in |
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designated areas in the region; and |
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(2) barriers to broadband deployment in designated |
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areas in the region. |
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(e) The office may provide technical and financial |
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assistance to a regional broadband advisory group for the |
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development of a report described by Subsection (d). |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 490I, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 490I.01061 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 490I.01061. FUNDING FOR REGIONAL BROADBAND ADVISORY |
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GROUPS. (a) The broadband development office may enter into a |
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contract with a political subdivision that is part of a regional |
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broadband advisory group under Section 490I.01051 to pay all or |
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part of the cost of performing the group's duties. |
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(b) A political subdivision may submit, either individually |
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or jointly with another representative of a regional broadband |
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advisory group, a written application to the office for the |
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purposes described in Subsection (a). |
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(c) The application must be in the manner and form required |
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by the comptroller. |
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(d) The office may award the applicant all or part of the |
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requested funds that the office considers necessary for the |
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political subdivision to carry out the purposes described in |
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Subsection (a). |
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(e) If the office grants an application under this section |
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and awards funds, the office shall enter into a contract with the |
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political subdivision that includes: |
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(1) a detailed statement of the purpose for which the |
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money is to be used; |
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(2) the total amount of money to be paid by the office |
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under the contract; and |
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(3) any other terms and conditions required by the |
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comptroller's rules or agreed to by the contracting parties. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |